Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Cost and Carbon Footprint Analysis of Flyash Utilization in Earthworks

  • Technical Note
  • Published:
International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the present study, the cost and environmental benefits attainable with the usage of flyash (FA) in earthworks are evaluated through cost analysis (CA) and carbon footprint analysis (CFA). A current public project involving highway embankment construction was considered for the CA and CFA on FA utilization. The geotechnical evaluation is followed by CA and CFA to quantify the estimated costs and carbon emissions in the following two scenarios, i.e. (I) FA-based embankment and (II) pavement constructed with FA as sub-base material. The CFA and CA results were extended to understand the effect of stabilizers such as lime and cement on construction’s overall emissions and costs. The CFA results indicate that FA procurement (embodied) influences the amount of carbon emissions and the overall costs with a share of 78% and 61% in scenarios I and II, respectively. It is noted that the utilization of hydrated lime and portland cement as stabilizers could enhance the costs by 513 Re/m3 and 722 Re/m3, respectively. Consequently, the results of the study validated the fact that the utilization of FA as an alternative to natural soils is a sustainable solution with a positive influence on the environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data used to support the findings of this study are included as electronic supplementary material.

References

  1. Mroueh UM, Eskola P, Laine-Ylijoki J (2001) Life-cycle impacts of the use of industrial by-products in road and earth construction. Waste Manag 21:271–277. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0956-053X(00)00100-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Gollakota ARK, Volli V, Shu CM (2019) Progressive utilisation prospects of coal fly ash: a review. Sci Total Environ 672:951–989. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Miricioiu MG, Niculescu VC (2020) Fly ash, from recycling to potential raw material for mesoporous silica synthesis. Nanomaterials 10:474. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10030474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Kumar S, Patil CB (2006) Estimation of resource savings due to fly ash utilization in road construction. Resour Conserv Recycl 48:125–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2006.01.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Moghal AAB, Rehman AU, Vydehi KV, Umer U (2020) Sustainable perspective of low-lime stabilized fly ashes for geotechnical applications: PROMETHEE-based optimization approach. Sustainability 12:6649. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12166649

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Indraratna B, Nutalaya P, Koo KS, Kuganenthira N (1991) Engineering behaviour of a low carbon, pozzolanic fly ash and its potential as a construction fill. Can Geotech J 28(4):542–555. https://doi.org/10.1139/t91-070

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Lim TT, Chu J (2006) Assessment of the use of spent copper slag for land reclamation. Waste Manag Res 24:67–73. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X06061769

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Indraratna B, Rujikiatkamjorn C, Chiaro G (2012) Characterization of compacted coal wash as structural fill material. ASCE Geotech Spec Publ 225:3826–3834. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784412121.392

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Wang J, Qin Q, Hu S, Wu K (2016) A concrete material with waste coal gangue and fly ash used for farmland drainage in high groundwater level areas. J Clean Prod 112:631–638. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.07.138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Koshy N, Dondrob K, Hu L, Wen Q, Meegoda JN (2019) Synthesis and characterization of geopolymers derived from coal gangue, fly ash and red mud. Constr Build Mater 206:287–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.02.076

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Ahmaruzzaman M (2010) A review on the utilization of fly ash. Prog Energy Combust Sci 36:327–363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2009.11.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Bin-Shafique S, Edil TB, Benson CH, Senol A (2004) Incorporating a fly-ash stabilised layer into pavement design. Proc Inst Civil Eng Geotech Eng 157:239–249. https://doi.org/10.1680/geng.2004.157.4.239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Sivapullaiah PV, Baig MAA (2011) Gypsum treated fly ash as a liner for waste disposal facilities. Waste Manag 31:359–369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2010.07.017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Moghal AAB (2017) State-of-the-art review on the role of fly ashes in geotechnical and geoenvironmental applications. J Mater Civ Eng 29:04017072. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0001897

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Mangi SA, Wan Ibrahim MH, Jamaluddin N, Arshad MF, Mudjanarko SW (2019) Recycling of coal ash in concrete as a partial cementitious resource. Resources 8:99. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources8020099

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Sivapullaiah P, Moghal A (2011) CBR and strength behavior of class F fly ashes stabilized with lime and gypsum. Int J Geotech Eng 5:121–130. https://doi.org/10.3328/IJGE.2011.05.02.121-130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Kaniraj SR, Havanagi VG (2001) Behavior of cement-stabilized fiber-reinforced fly ash-soil mixtures. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng 127(7):574–584. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2001)127:7(574)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Praticò FG, Puppala AJ (2015) Lime and cement treatments for low-volume roads: sustainability and resiliency issues. Transp Res Rec 2473(1):181–188. https://doi.org/10.3141/2473-21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Karim MA, Sami Hassan A, Kaplan A (2020) Optimization of soil to fly-ash mix ratio for enhanced engineering properties of clayey sand for subgrade use. Appl Sci 10:7038. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10207038

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Ashfaq M, Heeralal M, Reddy PHP (2019) A study on strength behavior of alkali-contaminated soils treated with fly ash. In: Agnihotri AK, Reddy KR, Bansal A (eds) Recycled waste materials. Springer, Singapore, pp 137–143. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-7017-5_16

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  21. Sikka R, Kansal BD (1994) Characterization of thermal power-plant fly ash for agronomic purposes and to identify pollution hazards. Biores Technol 50:269–273. https://doi.org/10.1016/0960-8524(94)90101-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Horiuchi S, Kawaguchi M, Yasuhara K (2000) Effective use of fly ash slurry as fill material. J Hazard Mater 76:301–337. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3894(00)00205-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Moghal AAB (2013) Geotechnical and physico-chemical characterization of low lime fly ashes. Adv Mater Sci Eng. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/amse/2013/674306/

  24. Leelavathamma B, Mini KM, Pandian NS (2005) California bearing ratio behavior of soil-stabilized class F fly ash systems. J Test Eval 33:406–410. https://doi.org/10.1520/JTE12439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Şahmaran M, Yaman İÖ, Tokyay M (2009) Transport and mechanical properties of self consolidating concrete with high volume fly ash. Cement Concr Compos 31:99–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2008.12.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. McCarthy MJ, Dhir RK (1999) Towards maximising the use of fly ash as a binder. Fuel 78:121–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-2361(98)00151-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Siddique R (2003) Effect of fine aggregate replacement with Class F fly ash on the mechanical properties of concrete. Cem Concr Res 33:539–547. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-8846(02)01000-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Tsimas S, Moutsatsou-Tsima A (2005) High-calcium fly ash as the fourth constituent in concrete: problems, solutions and perspectives. Cement Concr Compos 27:231–237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2004.02.012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Bou E, Quereda MF, Lever D, Boccaccini AR, Cheeseman CR (2009) Production of pulverised fuel ash tiles using conventional ceramic production processes. Adv Appl Ceram 108:44–49. https://doi.org/10.1179/174367509X345006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Húlan T, Štubňa I, Ondruška J, Trník A (2020) The influence of fly ash on mechanical properties of clay-based ceramics. Minerals 10:930. https://doi.org/10.3390/min10100930

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Alinnor IJ (2006) Adsorption of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution by fly ash. Fuel 86:853–857. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2006.08.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Puppala AJ, Pedarla A, Chittori B, Ganne VK, Nazarian S (2017) Long-term durability studies on chemically treated reclaimed asphalt pavement material as a base layer for pavements. Transp Res Rec 2657(1):1–9. https://doi.org/10.3141/2657-01

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Roth L, Eklund M (2003) Environmental evaluation of reuse of by-products as road construction materials in Sweden. Waste Manag 23:107–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0956-053X(02)00052-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Ashfaq M, Heeralal M, Moghal AAB (2020) Characterization studies on coal gangue for sustainable geotechnics. Innov Infrastruc Sol 5:15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41062-020-0267-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Olsson S, Kärrman E, Gustafsson JP (2006) Environmental systems analysis of the use of bottom ash from incineration of municipal waste for road construction. Resour Conserv Recycl 48:26–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2005.11.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Huber F, Laner D, Fellner J (2018) Comparative life cycle assessment of MSWI fly ash treatment and disposal. Waste Manag 73:392–403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2017.06.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Mroueh UM, Wahlström M (2002) By-products and recycled materials in earth construction in Finland—an assessment of applicability. Resour Conserv Recycl 35:117–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-3449(01)00126-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. ASTM (2012) D698: Standard test methods for laboratory compaction characteristics of soil using standard effort (12 400 ft-lbf/ft3 (600 kN-m/m3)). ASTM International, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  39. ASTM (2011) D3080: standard test methods for direct shear tests of soils under consolidated drained condition. ASTM International, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  40. ASTM (2015) D5865: Standard test methods for measurement of hydraulic conductivity of porous material using a rigid wall, compaction-mould permeameter. ASTM International, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  41. ASTM (2011) D2435: standard test methods for one dimensional consolidation properties of soil under incremental loading. ASTM International, West Conshohocken

    Google Scholar 

  42. IRC 58 guidelines for use of fly ash in road embankment—ID:5cb63b7ad7133. https://baixardoc.com/documents/irc-sp-58-guidelines-for-use-of-fly-ash-in-road-embankment-5cb63b7ad7133 (Accessed: 16 October 2021).

  43. IS 1498: classification and identification of soils for general engineering purposes. http://archive.org/details/gov.in.is.1498.1970 (Accessed: 16 October 2021).

  44. Shillaber CM, Mitchell JK, Dove JE (2016) Energy and carbon assessment of ground improvement works. II: working model and example. J Geotech Geoenviron Eng. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0001411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Ashfaq M, Heeralal M, Moghal AAB, Murthy VR (2020) Carbon footprint analysis of coal gangue in geotechnical engineering applications. Ind Geotech J 50:646–654. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-019-00389-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Ashfaq M, Heeralal M, Moghal AAB (2021) Utilization of coal gangue for earthworks: sustainability perspective. In: Hazarika H et al (eds) Advances in sustainable construction and resource management. Lecture notes in civil engineering, vol 144. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0077-7_20

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  47. Rabl A, Spadaro JV, Zoughaib A (2008) Environmental impacts and costs of solid waste: a comparison of landfill and incineration. Waste Manag Res 26(2):147–162. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X07080755

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Hammond G, Jones C (2011) Inventory of carbon and energy (ICE) version 2.0. Sustainable energy research team (SERT) University of Bath, Bath. https://greenbuildingencyclopaedia.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Full-BSRIA-ICE-guide.pdf

  49. Davis SC, Diegel SW, Boundy RG (2012) Transportation energy data book: edition 31. Rep. no. ORNL-6987, U.S. Department of energy. https://tedb.ornl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Edition31_Full_Doc.pdf (Accessed: 25 December, 2021).

  50. ISO 14044 (2006) Embodied carbon footprint database. Circular Ecology. https://www.iso.org/cms/render/live/en/sites/isoorg/contents/data/standard/03/84/38498.html (Accessed: 16 October, 2021).

  51. Shillaber CM, Mitchell JK, Dove JE (2014) Assessing environmental impacts in geotechnical construction: insights from the fuel cycle. ASCE Geotech Spec Publ 234:3516–3525. https://doi.org/10.1061/9780784413272.341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. ASTM C618. Standard specification for coal fly ash and raw or calcined natural pozzolan for use in concrete. American society for testing and materials. West Conshohocken, PA, USA: ASTM International; 2003. https://www.astm.org/c0618-19.html (Accessed: 25 December, 2021).

  53. Pandian NS, Balasubramonian S (1999) Permeability and consolidation behavior of fly ashes. J Test Eval 27:337–342. https://doi.org/10.1520/JTE12234J

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Zabielska-Adamska K (2012) Fly ash as a barrier material. ASCE Geotech Spec Publ 211:947–956. https://doi.org/10.1061/41165(397)97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Raymond S, Smith PH (1966) Shear strength, settlement and compaction characteristics of pulverised fuel ash. Civil Eng & Public Works Review 61(722):1107–1113. https://trid.trb.org/view/122202

  56. Kaniraj SR, Gayathri V (2004) Permeability and consolidation characteristics of compacted fly ash. J Energy Eng 130:18–43. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9402(2004)130:1(18)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Pant A, Ramana GV, Datta M, Gupta SK (2020) Comprehensive assessment of cleaner, sustainable and cost-effective use of coal combustion residue (CCR) in geotechnical applications. J Clean Prod 271:122570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Puppala AJ, Talluri N, Chittoori BCS (2014) Calcium-based stabiliser treatment of sulfate-bearing soils. Proc Inst Civil Eng Ground Improv 167(3):162–172. https://doi.org/10.1680/grim.13.00008

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This project was financially supported by the National Institute of Technology, Warangal, India under “Research Seed Grant No. P1015” and the Ministry of Education (Formerly known as Ministry of Human Resource and Development), Government of India. The authors thank the reviewers for their constructive comments which helped the cause of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Warangal, 506004, India

    Mohammed Ashfaq & Arif Ali Baig Moghal

Authors
  1. Mohammed Ashfaq
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Arif Ali Baig Moghal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

MA (First Author) and AABM (Second Author) conceived this research, designed, performed experiments and wrote the paper; AABM (Second Author) acquired funding for this research and participated in the interpretation of the data; MA (First Author) assisted in the analysis and participated in the revisions of it. Both the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Arif Ali Baig Moghal.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no potential conflict of interest in relation to the study in this paper.

Consent for publication

The manuscript of this paper, even with a minor overlap with text, research objectives, presentation of research data, figures/photographs, tables, research findings, conclusions, etc., has not been submitted to any other journal for simultaneous consideration. Also, no part of this paper manuscript has been published earlier by me/us and others at any publication platform (technical journal, conference proceedings, magazine, newspaper, etc.). The details as reported in this paper are truly our unpublished original research work in all aspects.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ashfaq, M., Moghal, A.A.B. Cost and Carbon Footprint Analysis of Flyash Utilization in Earthworks. Int. J. of Geosynth. and Ground Eng. 8, 21 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40891-022-00364-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40891-022-00364-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation